maintenance schedule Hyundai Sonata 2012 Owner's Manual

Features of your vehicle92
4Climate control air filterThe climate control air filter installed
behind the glove box filters the dust or
other pollutants that come into the vehi-
cle from the outside through the heating
and air conditioning system. If dust or
other pollutants accumulate in the filter
over a period of time, the air flow from the
air vents may decrease, resulting in
moisture accumulation on the inside of
the windshield even when the outside
(fresh) air position is selected. If this hap-
pens, have the climate control air filter
replaced by an authorized HYUNDAI
dealer.
✽ ✽
NOTICE• Replace the filter according to the
Maintenance Schedule.
If the vehicle is being driven in severe
conditions such as dusty, rough roads,
more frequent climate control air fil-
ter inspections and changes are
required.
• When the air flow rate suddenly decreases, the system should be
checked at an authorized HYUNDAI
dealer.
Checking the amount of air con-
ditioner refrigerant and compres-
sor lubricantWhen the amount of refrigerant is low,
the performance of the air conditioning is
reduced. Overfilling also has a negative
influence on the air conditioning system.
Therefore, if abnormal operation is
found, have the system inspected by an
authorized HYUNDAI dealer.✽ ✽ NOTICEIt is important that the correct type and
amount of oil and refrigerant is used.
Otherwise, damage to the compressor
and abnormal system operation may
occur.
OMG075033
Outside air
Recirculatedair
Climate control
air filter Blower
Evaporator
coreHeater core
WARNING
The air conditioning system should
be serviced by an authorized
HYUNDAI dealer. Improper service
may cause serious injury to the
person performing the service.

Driving your vehicle36
5Your vehicle's fuel economy depends
mainly on your style of driving, where you
drive and when you drive.
Each of these factors affects how many
miles (kilometers) you can get from a gal-
lon (liter) of fuel. To operate your vehicle
as economically as possible, use the fol-
lowing driving suggestions to help save
money in both fuel and repairs:
 Drive smoothly. Accelerate at a moder-
ate rate. Don't make "jack-rabbit" starts
or full-throttle shifts and maintain a
steady cruising speed. Don't race
between stoplights. Try to adjust your
speed to that of the other traffic so you
don't have to change speeds unneces-
sarily. Avoid heavy traffic whenever
possible. Always maintain a safe dis-
tance from other vehicles so you can
avoid unnecessary braking. This also
reduces brake wear.
 Drive at a moderate speed. The faster you drive, the more fuel your car uses.
Driving at a moderate speed, especial-
ly on the highway, is one of the most
effective ways to reduce fuel consump-
tion.  Don't "ride" the brake pedal. This can
increase fuel consumption and also
increase wear on these components.
In addition, driving with your foot rest-
ing on the brake pedal may cause the
brakes to overheat, which reduces
their effectiveness and may lead to
more serious consequences.
 Take care of your tires. Keep them inflated to the recommended pressure.
Incorrect inflation, either too much or
too little, results in unnecessary tire
wear. Check the tire pressures at least
once a month.
 Be sure that the wheels are aligned correctly. Improper alignment can
result from hitting curbs or driving too
fast over irregular surfaces. Poor align-
ment causes faster tire wear and may
also result in other problems as well as
greater fuel consumption.  Keep your car in good condition. For
better fuel economy and reduced
maintenance costs, maintain your car
in accordance with the maintenance
schedule in section 7. If you drive your
car in severe conditions, more frequent
maintenance is required (see section 7
for details).
 Keep your car clean. For maximum service, your vehicle should be kept
clean and free of corrosive materials. It
is especially important that mud, dirt,
ice, etc. not be allowed to accumulate
on the underside of the car. This extra
weight can result in increased fuel con-
sumption and also contribute to corro-
sion.
 Travel lightly. Don't carry unnecessary weight in your car. Weight reduces fuel
economy.
 Don't let the engine idle longer than necessary. If you are waiting (and not
in traffic), turn off your engine and
restart only when you're ready to go.ECONOMICAL OPERATION

537
Driving your vehicle
 Remember, your vehicle does notrequire extended warm-up. After the
engine has started, allow the engine to
run for 10 to 20 seconds prior to plac-
ing the vehicle in gear. In very cold
weather, however, give your engine a
slightly longer warm-up period.
 Don't "lug" or "over-rev" the engine. Lugging is driving too slowly in too high
a gear resulting in the engine bucking.
If this happens, shift to a lower gear.
Over-revving is racing the engine
beyond its safe limit. This can be avoid-
ed by shifting at the recommended
speeds.  Use your air conditioning sparingly.
The air conditioning system is operat-
ed by engine power so your fuel econ-
omy is reduced when you use it.
 Open windows at high speeds can reduce fuel economy.
 Fuel economy is less in crosswinds and headwinds. To help offset some of
this loss, slow down when driving in
these conditions.
Keeping a vehicle in good operating con-
dition is important both for economy and
safety. Therefore, have an authorized
HYUNDAI dealer perform scheduled
inspections and maintenance.
WARNING
- Engine off dur- ing motion
Never turn the engine off to coast
down hills or anytime the vehicle is
in motion. The power steering and
power brakes will not function
properly without the engine run-
ning. Instead, keep the engine on
and downshift to an appropriate
gear for engine braking effect. In
addition, turning off the ignition
while driving could engage the
steering wheel lock resulting in
loss of vehicle steering which
could cause serious injury or
death.

Driving your vehicle44
5
Use high quality ethylene glycol
coolantYour vehicle is delivered with high quality
ethylene glycol coolant in the cooling
system. It is the only type of coolant that
should be used because it helps prevent
corrosion in the cooling system, lubri-
cates the water pump and prevents
freezing. Be sure to replace or replenish
your coolant in accordance with the
maintenance schedule in section 7.
Before winter, have your coolant tested to
assure that its freezing point is sufficient
for the temperatures anticipated during
the winter.Check battery and cablesWinter puts additional burdens on the
battery system. Visually inspect the bat-
tery and cables as described in section
7. The level of charge in your battery can
be checked by an authorized HYUNDAI
dealer or a service station.
Change to "winter weight" oil if
necessaryIn some climates it is recommended that
a lower viscosity "winter weight" oil be
used during cold weather. See section 8
for recommendations. If you aren't sure
what weight oil you should use, consult
an authorized HYUNDAI dealer.Check spark plugs and ignition
systemInspect your spark plugs as described in
section 7 and replace them if necessary.
Also check all ignition wiring and compo-
nents to be sure they are not cracked,
worn or damaged in any way.
WARNING
- Tire chains
 The use of chains may adversely
affect vehicle handling.
 Do not exceed 20 mph (30 km/h) or the chain manufacturer’s rec-
ommended speed limit, whichev-
er is lower.
 Drive carefully and avoid bumps, holes, sharp turns, and other
road hazards, which may cause
the vehicle to bounce.
 Avoid sharp turns or locked- wheel braking.
CAUTION
 Chains that are the wrong size or improperly installed can damageyour vehicle's brake lines, sus-pension, body and wheels.
 Stop driving and retighten the chains any time you hear themhitting the vehicle.

7
Engine compartment / 7-2
Maintenance services / 7-4
Owner maintenance / 7-5
Scheduled maintenance service / 7-7
Explanation of scheduled maintenance items / 7-19
Engine oil / 7-22
Engine coolant / 7-24
Brake fluid / 7-26
Washer fluid / 7-27
Parking brake / 7-28
Air cleaner / 7-29
Climate control air filter / 7-30
Wiper blades / 7-32
Battery / 7-34
Tires and wheels / 7-37
Fuses / 7-50
Light bulbs / 7-59
Appearance care / 7-67
Emission control system / 7-73
California perchlorate notice / 7-76
Maintenance

Maintenance47MAINTENANCE SERVICESYou should exercise the utmost care to
prevent damage to your vehicle and
injury to yourself whenever performing
any maintenance or inspection proce-
dures.
Should you have any doubts concerning
the inspection or servicing of your vehi-
cle, we strongly recommend that you
have an authorized HYUNDAI dealer
perform this work.
An authorized HYUNDAI dealer has fac-
tory-trained technicians and genuine
HYUNDAI parts to service your vehicle
properly. For expert advice and quality
service, see an authorized HYUNDAI
dealer.
Inadequate, incomplete or insufficient
servicing may result in operational prob-
lems with your vehicle that could lead to
vehicle damage, an accident, or person-
al injury.
Owner’s responsibility ✽ ✽NOTICEMaintenance Service and Record
Retention are the owner's responsibility. You should retain documents that show
proper maintenance has been performed
on your vehicle in accordance with the
scheduled maintenance service charts
shown on the following pages. You need
this information to establish your compli-
ance with the servicing and maintenance
requirements of your vehicle warranties.
Detailed warranty information is provided
in your Owner’s Handbook & Warranty
Information booklet.
Repairs and adjustments required as a
result of improper maintenance or a lack
of required maintenance are not covered.
We recommend you have your vehicle
maintained and repaired by an author-
ized HYUNDAI dealer. An authorized
HYUNDAI dealer meets HYUNDAI’s high
service quality standards and receives
technical support from HYUNDAI in
order to provide you with a high level of
service satisfaction.
Owner maintenance precautions Improper or incomplete service may
result in problems. This section gives
instructions only for the maintenance
items that are easy to perform.
As explained earlier in this section, sev-
eral procedures can be done only by an
authorized HYUNDAI dealer with special
tools.✽ ✽NOTICEImproper owner maintenance during
the warranty period may affect warran-
ty coverage. For details, read the sepa-
rate Owner’s Handbook & Warranty
Information booklet provided with the
vehicle. If you're unsure about any serv-
icing or maintenance procedure, have it
done by an authorized HYUNDAI deal-
er.

75
Maintenance
The following lists are vehicle checks and
inspections that should be performed by
the owner or an authorized HYUNDAI
dealer at the frequencies indicated to
help ensure safe, dependable operation
of your vehicle.
Any adverse conditions should be
brought to the attention of your dealer as
soon as possible.
These Owner Maintenance Checks are
generally not covered by warranties and
you may be charged for labor, parts and
lubricants used.
Owner maintenance schedule When you stop for fuel: Check the engine oil level.
 Check coolant level in coolant reser-voir.
 Check the windshield washer fluid level.
 Look for low or under-inflated tires.
WARNING
- Maintenance work
 Performing maintenance work on
a vehicle can be dangerous. You
can be seriously injured while
performing some maintenance
procedures. If you lack sufficient
knowledge and experience or the
proper tools and equipment to do
the work, have it done by an
authorized HYUNDAI dealer.
 Working under the hood with the engine running is dangerous. It
becomes even more dangerous
when you wear jewelry or loose
clothing. These can become
entangled in moving parts and
result in injury. Therefore, if you
must run the engine while work-
ing under the hood, make certain
that you remove all jewelry (espe-
cially rings, bracelets, watches,
and necklaces) and all neckties,
scarves, and similar loose cloth-
ing before getting near the
engine or cooling fans.
OWNER MAINTENANCE
WARNING
Be careful when checking your
engine coolant level when the
engine is hot. Scalding hot coolant
and steam may blow out under
pressure. This could cause burns
or other serious injury.

77
Maintenance
SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE SERVICE Follow Normal Maintenance Schedule if
the vehicle is usually operated where
none of the following conditions apply. If
any of the following conditions apply, fol-
low Maintenance Under Severe Usage
Conditions.
 Repeated short distance driving.
 Driving in dusty conditions or sandyareas.
 Extensive use of brakes.
 Driving in areas where salt or other corrosive materials are being used.
 Driving on rough or muddy roads.
 Driving in mountainous areas.
 Extended periods of idling or low speed operation.
 Driving for a prolonged period in cold temperatures and/or extremely humid
climates.
 More than 50% driving in heavy city traffic during hot weather above 90°F
(32°C).
If your vehicle is operated under theabove conditions, you should inspect, replace or refill more frequently than thefollowing Normal Maintenance Schedule.After 120 months or 150,000 miles(240,000 km) continue to follow the pre- scribed maintenance intervals.

Maintenance87NORMAL MAINTENANCE SCHEDULEThe following maintenance services must be performed to ensure good emission control and performance. Keep receipts for all
vehicle emission services to protect your warranty. Where both mileage and time are shown, the frequency of service is deter-
mined by whichever occurs first.
15,000 miles (24,000 km) or 12 months
❑Inspect air cleaner filter❑Inspect vacuum hose❑Inspect air conditioning refrigerant❑Inspect brake hoses and lines❑Inspect drive shafts and boots❑Inspect exhaust pipe and muffler❑Inspect front brake disc/pads, calipers❑Inspect rear brake disc/pads❑Inspect steering gear box, linkage & boots/lower arm ball joint,
upper arm ball joint❑ Inspect suspension mounting bolts❑Replace climate control air filter (for evaporator and blower unit)❑Replace engine oil and filter (2.4 GDI) *
3
(15,000 miles (24,000 km) or 24 months)❑ Add fuel additive *
4
7,500 miles (12,000 km) or 6 months
❑Inspect air cleaner filter❑Inspect vacuum hose❑Replace engine oil and filter (2.4 GDI) *
3
(7,500 miles (12,000 km) or 12 months)❑ Add fuel additive *
4
*3Engine oil (2.0 TGDI) At first, replace at 3,000 miles (5,000 km) or 6 months,
after that, every 5,000 miles (8,000 km) or 6 months.
*4If TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline is not available, one bottle of additive is rec-
ommended. Additives are available from your authorized HYUNDAI dealer
along with information on how to use them. Do not mix other additives.
22,500 miles (36,000 km) or 18 months
❑ Inspect air cleaner filter❑Inspect vacuum hose❑Replace engine oil and filter (2.4 GDI) *
3
(22,500 miles (36,000 km) or 36 months)❑ Add fuel additive *
4

79
Maintenance
NORMAL MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE (CONT.)
37,500 miles (60,000 km) or 30 months
❑Inspect air cleaner filter❑Inspect vacuum hose❑Inspect manual transaxle fluid (if equipped)❑Replace engine oil and filter (2.4 GDI) *
3
(37,500 miles (60,000 km) or 60 months)❑ Add fuel additive *
4
*1Fuel filter & Fuel tank air filter are considered to be maintenance free\
but peri-
odic inspection is recommended for this maintenance schedule depends on
fuel quality. If there are some important safety matters like fuel flow restric-
tion, surging, loss of power, hard starting problem etc, replace the fuel filter
immediately regardless of maintenance schedule and consult an authorized
HYUNDAI dealer for details.
*3Engine oil (2.0 TGDI) At first, replace at 3,000 miles (5,000 km) or 6 months,
after that, every 5,000 miles (8,000 km) or 6 months.
*4If TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline is not available, one bottle of additive is rec-
ommended. Additives are available from your authorized HYUNDAI dealer
along with information on how to use them. Do not mix other additives.
30,000 miles (48,000 km) or 24 months
❑ Inspect vacuum hose❑Inspect air conditioning refrigerant❑Inspect brake hoses and lines❑Inspect drive shafts and boots❑Inspect exhaust pipe and muffler❑Inspect front brake disc/pads, calipers❑Inspect rear brake disc/pads❑Inspect steering gear box, linkage & boots/lower arm ball joint,
upper arm ball joint❑Inspect suspension mounting bolts❑Inspect brake/clutch (if equipped) fluid ❑Inspect fuel filter *
1
❑Inspect fuel lines, fuel hoses and connections❑Inspect fuel tank air filter (if equipped) *
1
❑Inspect parking brake❑Inspect vapor hose and fuel filler cap❑ Replace climate control air filter (for evaporator and blower unit)❑Replace air cleaner filter❑Replace engine oil and filter (2.4 GDI) *
3
(30,000 miles (48,000 km) or 48 months)❑ Add fuel additive *
4